Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Spangles on September 02, 2018, 10:18:36 AM
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Hi Ladies,
I visited a chiropractor on Friday, it was the initial appointment so no treatment was given.
I had posture pictures taken and a few tests and an extensive chat about my life! She did a SEMG scan of my spine.
I go back on Monday to discuss the findings, however she says that she wants to adjust my spine and pelvis.
I'm a little worried about this as I don't know what to expect, it's all making me a little anxious.
Has anyone had any experience of chiropractors?
I'd be grateful to hear.
Many thanks
Singles
xXx
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"adjust" means what exactly? I would never allow anyone to mess with my spine unless under a general anaethetic with complete medical attendance. My first question would be "How many people are paralysed World Wide with manipulation therapy?". If she can't give you answers or avoids the question, walk away. How much is she charging? There are people who do trust themselves to these practitioners but as an orthopaedic secretary I am always wary.
At least she did a 'scan', but SEMG means nowt to me ::)
Why are you going, what symptom/s would you like to ease? Is your GP aware? Have you had physiotherapy .......... if I remember I will ask my colleagues about their take on osteo and chiropractors.
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I remembered: have sent an e-mail to my colleague and a GP friend to get up-2-date advice.
Do you feel that there is any rush for treatment?
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Hi CKLD,
Yes I have suffered for years with my back. My lower back locked a couple of days ago. GP will only ever prescribe painkillers and anti inflammatory medication plus medication to alleviate the problems these mess cause to my stomach. I have a codeine allergy and intolerance to ibuprofen due to stomach issues. They refuse to scan so I thought I would try something different. I have had physio previously and I've also had an MRI for my neck which revealed disc degeneration and a bulging disc. I'm now at the point where constant pain is making me unwell and very anxious. I have a physical job in education and I need this sorting, hence looking for something alternative.
Thanks
Spangles
xXx
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Of course you need this sorted. It's due to evolving upright .......... so lots of pressure from the head, which weighs I think 7lb? - plus compensation if footwear is badly fitted, even getting up from a chair can cause back problems. I had my parents 'laid up' with back problems years ago: Dad flat out downstairs and Mum in their bed! Mum had bent down to pick up a rug to shake :o. Dad had stepped awkwardly :-\.
Myself - if I don't remember to kneel, especially with the laundry machines, I get sciatica. Bugga ....... evolution has a lot to answer for!
I can't tolerate anything apart from Nurofen or Anadin ......... anything else either makes me ill or has no impact!
Which is best: sitting, gentle exercise, laying flat?
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Spangles, I have never been to a chiropractor, but have had my pelvis adjusted a couple of times by the osteopath. When he does the right hand side it makes me go "oof!" but is not exactly painful. It's fine on the other side. I never regard it as a big deal, but it is helpful for my own particular problem. Having said that, I've no idea if a chiropractor's technique is the same.
I too have been mucked about by the medical profession, by being given drugs for musculoskeletal problems in the past. My first port of call would now be my highly experienced and well qualified osteopath, and then the medics if necessary. Although I've never consulted a chiropractor, I know they take a holistic approach which is probably what is needed here.
CLKD is right that we need to be cautious, though. It's a good idea to check out a practitioner's qualifications.
JP x
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Hi Joaniepat,
The chiro is fully qualified and came by recommendation of a friend who also uses her.
Osteopaths tend to look at the whole body, whereas chiropractors look at the spine and the nervous system. However from the research I have done, both tend to do similar adjustments.
xXx
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It's always good to have a personal recommendation! Let us know how you get on, she sounds very thorough.
JP x
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Hi there..
Maybe a Tens machine to help pain, therefore allowing you to be mobile and no need for oral medication.... Costs about 20.00 from a pharmacy... Pilates to help core strength too.
Hope it helps
Woodlands
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>wave< Woodlands
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Hi Ladies,
Well..... This is how it went.........
To cut a very long story short:
Various torsions and mis aligned vertebrae, locked sacral joint in pelvis? Severe issues in neck, (already investigated), curve in spine doe to compensating for injuries.
Had spine and pelvis adjusted, took 4 minutes £38, thank you!
Treatment plan:
3 sessions a week (5 mins max) £38 a session) for 4 months!
Monthly progress scans £75 each
Grand total was over £2000!!!!
I don't think so, chiro didn't seem to understand that I don't have that kind of disposable income! She is of the thinking that if I want my back better I will find the money no matter what! When I asked if once or twice a week would work she said no.
Although she came highly recommended, I won't be going back, I think she's ok but I have nothing to compare, also I think there is an element of 'making money' there too
Thanks
Spangles
xXx
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Spangles, I'm sorry to hear you had such a poor experience with the chiropractor. Yes, definitely sounds like a 'profits before patients' practice. The only suggestion I have, when you have recovered financially from this experience, is to try an osteopath or perhaps physiotherapist. Was your chiropractor working alone? I always feel a bit suspicious of lone operators, although I expect that is unjustified. It's just how I feel.
I am off to the osteopath today for a lower back problem that has developed recently (my own fault, done whilst gardening 10 days ago). Can't get an appointment with my usual bloke, who always does a good job on my foot, so am seeing someone else at the same practice. I don't know if he will be as good, we'll see. They charge £45 for a half hour session. Frequent sessions have never been suggested.
JP x
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One thing to note is that osteopaths have the toughest training, it’s apparently second only to Law. (I had a client who almost had a breakdown getting through the training so I learnt a lot about it from their perspective). Not sure chiros would thus have the same knowledge but it does come down to the individual and if you weren’t impressed by the one session I think I thats a good rule to try something else.
I personally found chiro a waste of time but was wowed by osteo when I had treatments back in the day.
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That's interesting dangermouse, didn't know that!
I've just had quite a good experience with my new one. Examination, diagnosis, manipulation, massage and myofascial release, all the usual stuff. Problem explained and demonstrated on model skeleton. I am expecting a bit of inflammation over the next day or two so treated myself to a new gel pack. Been given an exercise to do, discussion about bone health, reminders about posture. I have another appointment for Monday to check progress and see if anything further needs doing. I thought I got my money's worth at £45.
JP x
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If I am correct, a NHS Consultant who also wants to practice in the Private Sector can only be part-time in the NHS. So if she/he wishes to do something during their off-duty hours they can continue to give advice where patients pay. Or they could be keeping sheep, cycling, gardening on their off-time.
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From my experience there are two 'camps' of chiropractor.
One believes in continuous 'corrections' & a steady emptying of your purse. The other believes in treating the problem & not necessarily seeing you ever again.
I was fortunate in coming across the second one first, a fabulous Swedish man who put my long term back problem right & fully explained the problem.
I had a close shave with the first who wanted to correct a curve in my neck which wasn't coursing a problem & was actually proud to introduce me to a client who had been going to him continuously for YEARS !
Having said that I recently had course to see a Osteopath who treats both muscles/tendons & bones.
Maybe a good chat before any treatment would expose their long term plan.
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What's wrong with the good old fashioned phyisio'.
I was refered by my GP for syatica. Four visits for pre treatment then my misaligned veribra was put back in place.
Job done.
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I don't understand the expression 'mis-aligned'?!? nor does my friend who I asked 4 advice. We are both ex-orthopaedic secretaries. We both avoid any other types of treatments due to being aware of might happen. Rarely are bad results, i.e. paralysis by a person being manipulated without relaxant seen in the Press.
It is said that a good therapist will 'sort' the problem if it is sortable within a few sessions, one should not have to keep returning for similar treatments. An X-ray will show if there are sketal problems which require 'manipulation', muscles can become tight so the body compensates etc. .....
I know what I do 'wrongly' which produces sciatica - i.e. I don't kneel!!! DH currently has a swollen foot so is walking awkwardly so we are aware that he is compensating which may alter his gait.
If a vertebra is 'mis-aligned' in the true sense, one may become paralysed. Certainly it would be painful beyond words, my neighbour suffered and needed valium as a relaxant. A normally placid man ........... :-X he had moved, suddenly :o
Would your GP or Consultant refer you to the people you have been seeing? Is there a good record with results ?
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Absolutely they refer and have been going for years.
I had a misaligned veribra near the top of my back. This was throwing my whole spine out with the result that pressure was being put on nerves at the base. It was so bad my foot was numb. Not to mention the pain down my leg.
You may dispute it but it happened to me.
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I don't dispute your symptoms but don't understand the expression of 'mis-aligned'. Nor 'slipped disc' though that was a common expression for years ::)
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Perhaps you prefer Spondylolisthesis. This apparently it the correct term ::) and describes exactly what I had.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/spondylolisthesis/
pain, numbness or a tingling sensation radiating from your lower back down your legs (sciatica) – this occurs if the slipped vertebra presses on a nerve
This is from the aforementioned website. NHS, who'd have thought it.
I can PM you the web page of the physio, if you like?
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Think of mis aligned as, not quite where it should be, not enough to course paralysis but often pressing on a nerve or blood vessel that would normally have a clear path.
It can be manipulated back to where it belongs by the experts. Quite amazing when they do it when the pain disappears. Usually the quicker you can get it put right the better the results & helps to lessen the chance of it happening again.The longer you leave it the more damage to the surrounding nerve/muscle/blood vessels.
I have a old back problem from years of non treatment, painkillers only from docs. Had it put right after about 10 years by a chiropractor. It will always be a weak point but I know what to avoid & 99% of the time it is ok with no pain.
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That's right suziq. Medical terminology, or layman's, the condition is the same and the treatment works. :)
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I believe that the inner part of the disc swells/bulges which causes the pressure. If it 'slipped' in the true sense of the word, paralysis at that level may occur. Wish I could draw on here ;D I can see what I mean ............
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I think we are going to have to agree to differ here CLKD. I know what I was told by a professional and what treatment I had.
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I'm not denying what you were told, I can't visualise it :D
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HI Ladies, I'm back!
Well after my experience with the 'on the make' chiropractor, I took things easy for a while.
However last Sunday I decided I was able to clean the bathroom and BANG my back went again!
Back to square one but worse than ever this time. I went to the doctors out of despair on Monday and I must say I was quite assertive 😊 (Probable a little aggressive? I don't know but I was in so much pain I wasn't bothered).
After many offers of various drugs, including Tramadol, (I don't think so!), the doctor gave me a very thorough examination, she certainly found the painful spot! I was then offered a complete spinal and pelvic MRI.
I'm still waiting for this to come through, so I will let you know the results when I have them.
The doctor did say to me that one side of my pelvis was rather lower than the other side. I think this is probably due to the years of not receiving the correct treatment for my spine and spending many years compensating due to pain!
We shall wait and see.
Love
Spangles
xXx
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At last! Were you offered any pain relief or valium as a relaxant?
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Hi CLKD,
Yes I was offered various drugs including tramadol, I have a codein allergy so that limits what I can have.
Anti inflammatory medications cause too many issues with my stomach and therefore I need more medication to counteract that. I'd rather be as drug free as possible.
The pain isn't nice and it does get me down but I am coping, paracetamol, heat patches and a hot water bottle bring me a lot of comfort and relief.
I just need the appointment to come through now so I can move forward.
I have an occupational health assessment coming up at work so we'll see what adjustments can be made there. Not much I imagine as I don't work in a fixed area, I maybe in 4 different areas each day. This means that I can't have desk and chair adjustments as it isn't practical, and I can't do my job from one place, but we will see.
Spangles
xXx
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TENs machine?
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I have been using a wireless TENS since my back went mid March. The physio I am now seeing is quite happy for me to use it if it means less drugs/creams or heat pads and less spasms. I don't need it every day now but quite often late afternoon I feel the need at the moment
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Hello Ladies,
Complete diagnosis, it's been a long time coming!
Disc bulges in entire lumbar section
Disc bulge in cervical section
Degenerative disc disease in both sections
Minor stenosis
Physio next week
Regular sports massag, (never even thought of this just wish I had done it 6months ago!)
Spangles
xXx